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1) Today is December 7. It’s the 79th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor which formally brought the United States into World War II. Would like to share a family story about that, and some perspective.
2) My grandfather (mother’s side), Robert Walker, was a 17-year-old college freshman on the morning of December 7.
It was a Sunday.
He had gone home from college for the weekend from Rhode Island to Massachusetts. That was also pledge day for fraternities at his college.
It was a Sunday.
He had gone home from college for the weekend from Rhode Island to Massachusetts. That was also pledge day for fraternities at his college.
3) Three brothers from Theta Delta Chi pulled him out of bed and threw him in the car that morning to drive back to campus and pledge him to the fraternity.
On the drive back to campus (mind the time difference), they heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor on the radio.
On the drive back to campus (mind the time difference), they heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor on the radio.
4) According to my grandfather, 2 of the 3 Theta Delta Chi brothers who picked him up that morning were killed in the Pacific.
Adolph Wochomurka became a Naval Aviator aboard USS Hancock and was shot down at Leyte Gulf.
Bob Bentley joined the infantry. He was killed at Okinawa.
Adolph Wochomurka became a Naval Aviator aboard USS Hancock and was shot down at Leyte Gulf.
Bob Bentley joined the infantry. He was killed at Okinawa.
5) My grandfather was already part of the Navy ROTC program at college. On Monday, Dec. 8, the lieutenant in charge of the program met with the cadets at 0900.
He was in his full Navy blues. Before he had worn civilian suits when he met with them.
He was in his full Navy blues. Before he had worn civilian suits when he met with them.
6) The lieutenant told them to not do anything rash. They’d get their chance to join the war.
“Don’t do anything. Don’t quit school. Don’t join the Army. You boys are going to be Naval Officers. Just stay in school and study. We’ll tell you what to do when the time comes.”
“Don’t do anything. Don’t quit school. Don’t join the Army. You boys are going to be Naval Officers. Just stay in school and study. We’ll tell you what to do when the time comes.”
7) Eventually, my grandfather ended up in the Navy V-12 program.
In February 1944, they were told that NROTC cadets who had finished 6+ semesters of college would be commissioned as Navy officers and sent to sea duty.
In February 1944, they were told that NROTC cadets who had finished 6+ semesters of college would be commissioned as Navy officers and sent to sea duty.
8) At just 20 years old, my grandfather was a Navy officer and headed off to training.
He got sick the first time he was at sea, on a 110-foot wooden sub chaser off the coast of Florida. Fortunately, he got over his seasickness quickly. He had a long Navy career.
He got sick the first time he was at sea, on a 110-foot wooden sub chaser off the coast of Florida. Fortunately, he got over his seasickness quickly. He had a long Navy career.
9) He ended up joining a crew on a landing ship being built in Pittsburgh, LST-783.
In Fall of 1944, they sailed it down the Ohio River (past my hometown of Louisville), then down the Mississippi River, through the Gulf of Mexico, the Panama Canal, and into the Pacific.
In Fall of 1944, they sailed it down the Ohio River (past my hometown of Louisville), then down the Mississippi River, through the Gulf of Mexico, the Panama Canal, and into the Pacific.
10) LSTs (Landing ship, tank) were not glamorous, but played an important part in the war.
They could sail across oceans with about 20 tanks, 30 trucks, or 200 soldiers. They could then beach themselves, open their big bow doors, and the equipment could drive off.
They could sail across oceans with about 20 tanks, 30 trucks, or 200 soldiers. They could then beach themselves, open their big bow doors, and the equipment could drive off.
11) That’s useful on small islands with a beach, or anywhere there isn’t a port to offload cargo with a crane. LSTs played a big part in both the Atlantic and Pacific.
Here’s LST-783’s crew. My grandfather is first row, fourth from left. He weighed about 130 pounds at the time.
Here’s LST-783’s crew. My grandfather is first row, fourth from left. He weighed about 130 pounds at the time.
12) They arrived at Leyte Gulf in the Phillipines on Dec. 6, 1944. Japanese planes attacked, and LST-783 shot down a “Betty” bomber.
There were several air raids while they were there, but they were mostly ineffective. Just nuisances.
There were several air raids while they were there, but they were mostly ineffective. Just nuisances.
13) The skipper of LST-783 confirmed the kill with a Navy Air Combat Intelligence officer named Henry Fonda (yes, that Henry Fonda).
They stenciled in a Japanese flag on the bridge to mark the victory just 2 days after shooting the plane down.
They stenciled in a Japanese flag on the bridge to mark the victory just 2 days after shooting the plane down.
14) LST-783 arrived at Iwo Jima in March 1945, a few weeks after the invasion on February 19.
While it was beached, the Japanese noticed LST-783 had a different paint scheme than the other ships and decided it was important. They fired a few shots at it, but no damage was done.
While it was beached, the Japanese noticed LST-783 had a different paint scheme than the other ships and decided it was important. They fired a few shots at it, but no damage was done.
15) The rest of the war was uneventful for my grandfather. Japan surrendered in August 1945. He took command of LST-783 in early 1946. He was 22 years old and captain of his own ship.
He didn’t get home to Massachusetts until summer 1946; more than 2 years after leaving college.
He didn’t get home to Massachusetts until summer 1946; more than 2 years after leaving college.
16) My grandfather’s WWII story isn’t that of a fighter ace or someone who drove a tank across France.
But it is an example of how significantly his life – and the lives around him – changed on December 7, 1941. He stayed in the Navy until 1969, becoming a captain (O-6).
But it is an example of how significantly his life – and the lives around him – changed on December 7, 1941. He stayed in the Navy until 1969, becoming a captain (O-6).
17) At @UK_Patterson, I learned about how so much of today’s international community was shaped during and after World War II.
The UN, World Bank, NATO, basically the entire international system we now know was constructed during and after World War II.
The UN, World Bank, NATO, basically the entire international system we now know was constructed during and after World War II.
18) It changed the United States hugely as well; the US established permanent intelligence agencies like the CIA.
The US never kept much of a standing military in peacetime before World War II; since then, the US has been the world’s leading military power ever since 1945.
The US never kept much of a standing military in peacetime before World War II; since then, the US has been the world’s leading military power ever since 1945.
19) On a more personal note, my grandfather had 5 children that he raised mostly while he finished his Navy career. The youngest, my mother, became a Navy officer after college in the early 1980s.
She and my father met while they were in the same OCS class.
She and my father met while they were in the same OCS class.
20) My brother eventually joined the Navy, and is on active duty right now. And here I am, with a brand new degree in international security and intelligence from @UK_Patterson.
December 7, 1941. Almost 80 years ago.
That’s the date that so much changed.
December 7, 1941. Almost 80 years ago.
That’s the date that so much changed.
